On the covered Kenmore 110 model high-efficiency front-load washer, F/14 means Kenmore's service table lists this code as: main control board EEPROM error. Unplug the washer for five minutes and see whether the code clears. Restore power and run a short cycle.
Differential
Likely causes of “Kenmore 110 model high-efficiency front-load washer code F/14”, and how to tell them apart
- 1
The EEPROM on the main control board is corrupted
What separates it The display shows F14 or F/14 and the washer will not start a cycle
How to confirm Unplug the washer for five minutes and see whether the code clears
- 2
A one-off memory error after a power event
What separates it The code appeared after a storm or an outage
How to confirm Restore power and run a short cycle
- 3
A power surge that damaged the board's memory
What separates it Other electronics in the house were affected
How to confirm Replace the board if the code returns
- 4
Moisture on the control board
What separates it The console or the washer was wet
How to confirm Dry the area and inspect
- 5
A failed main electronic control board
What separates it The code returns every time power is restored
How to confirm The board is replaced
Before you touch a setting
Record this first — changing settings destroys the evidence
- Whether the display shows F14 or F/14 and whether the door is locked
- Whether the washer has lost its cycle settings or time since the last power cut
- Whether the washer is a 110 model and not a 796, since the control boards differ
Try in this order
0 of 8 completedCorrect only the documented fault domain
ReversibleThe Electrically Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM) on the main electronic control board is corrupted. Unplug the washer for 5 minutes, restore power and see if the code clears. If not, the replace the main electronic control board. Parts named: main electronic control board.
Unplug the washer
ReversiblePull the plug from the outlet, and wait the full five minutes that the table recommends so that the control board can discharge and restart.
Plug it in and look at the display
ReversibleA normal display with no code means the memory error was a one-off. F14 again means the board's memory is still faulty.
Run a short cycle
ReversibleStart a quick wash and watch that the washer fills, washes and drains, and that the code does not return partway.
Check for moisture or damage
ReversibleLook at the console and the area around the control for water or signs of a leak, since moisture can cause memory faults.
Note the model number
ReversibleWrite down the full model number from the label inside the door opening, because the correct control board depends on it.
Replace the main control board if the code returns
ReversibleThe EEPROM is part of the board, so a board that keeps reporting F14 after the reset is replaced as a whole.
Photograph the model label
ReversibleTake a clear photograph of the label inside the door opening, since the board is ordered by the full model number and a mistake means a return.
Model-specific
What is true of this model and not of its siblings
- The code on this page
- F14 or F/14, a main control board EEPROM error.
- Parts involved
- The main electronic control board, which is also called the machine control board.
- Source
- Sears PartsDirect's table for Kenmore washers.
- What an EEPROM is
- An EEPROM is the small memory chip that remembers a washer's settings and its calibration when the power is off. If it is corrupted, the control cannot trust what it reads and stops. The table puts it plainly: the chip is part of the main control board, so a washer that keeps reporting it needs a new board, not a new chip.
- Why the 110 model differs from the 796
- The 110 high-efficiency front-loaders and the 796 Wi-Fi models were built on different platforms, so their boards are not interchangeable. A parts counter will ask for the model number to avoid selling the wrong one, and a photograph of the label saves a trip.
Stop boundary
When this stops being a self-service repair
- !After the five-minute reset, a returning F14 means the main control board is replaced as a whole, since the memory is on the board
- !Order the board against the full 110 model number, not the shorter family name
- !Do not run a washer that is rewriting its own cycle settings erratically
Evidence ledger
Sources behind this answer
Exact questions
Common questions
What does F/14 mean on a Kenmore 110 model high-efficiency front-load washer?+
Kenmore's service table lists this code as: main control board EEPROM error.
Can I reset it myself?+
Yes, by unplugging the washer for five minutes, and the code sometimes clears.
Does a surge cause it?+
A surge or a power event can corrupt the memory, though a reset may clear it.
Is the board expensive?+
The main control board is one of the dearer parts of a front-loader, so weigh the cost against the age of the washer.
Is it dangerous to run?+
Do not run the washer if it behaves oddly, since the control may not fill or drain correctly.
Can a power cut cause the memory error?+
Yes, an interruption at the wrong moment can corrupt the memory, and a five-minute reset sometimes clears it.
Does the washer lose its settings?+
A fresh board starts with factory settings, so you may need to set the options again.